Liquid treatment of filamentary material



June 5, 1945. w, STANLEY ETAL 2,377,655

LIQUID TREATMENT OF FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed April 14, 1942 INVENTOR. F/Cl-IFFD W ETHNLEY BY HENRY? .UEFFM TT' 1 ATTQ%Y.

Patented June 5, 1945 LIQUID TREATMENT OF FILADIENTARY MATERIAL Richard W. Stanley, Drexel Hill, and Henry J. McDermott, Prospect Park, Pa., assignors to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application April 14, 1942, Serial No. 438,923

4 Claims.

This invention relates to the treatment with liquids of filamentarymaterial in the form a running single strand or continuous filamentary bundle of comparatively small diameter. The invention particularly concerns novel arrangements for treating with liquids of artificial filaments during or shortly after their formation by extrusion and coagulation.

Whatever the purpose behind any particular instances of treating with liquid, it is highly desirable to economize on the use of the liquid, not merely from the standpoint of obtaining a saving in the cost of the particular treating liquid, which may or may not be expensive, but also to reduce the amount of equipment necessary to apply the liquid as well as the consumption of energy needed to pum the liquid to the scene of treat filamentary material along a constant predetermined length thereof and further to be able to control the application of the liquid so that any predetermined length along the filament may be treated as desired. It is an object of this invention to provide a liquid treatment which will eiiectively fulfill these desiderata. It is a further object of the invention to provide such an arrangement of liquid treating apparatus with a minimum of parts or surfaces necessary to make frictional contact with the filamentary material being treated. Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and the description thereof hereinafter.

In the drawing, illustrative of the invention,

Figure 1 shows in elevation a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1a is an elevation of a modification.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a nozzle detail,

Figure 4 is a side view of a modified form of nozzle guide, and

Figure 5 is a front view of the modified nozzle guide.

In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a course of filamentary material 2 proceeding upwardly at a small angle with respect to the vertical. This course of yarn which is to be treated may be proceeding between any two guiding means, such as between the two godets or rolls '3 and 4 shown. This running course of the filamentary material to be treated may be formed between two godets or guiding elements upon a spinning machine or it may be formed between guiding means in a distinct machine expressly designed for the liquid treatment. In the former case, the running course hay be undergoing stretching between two stretching rolls or godets in which event, the liquid treatment may constitute essentially the application of heated water or of a solvent or swelling agent for the filamentary material to condition the filamentary material for stretching. Alternatively, the treatment fiuid may simply be a washing fluid, or in the case of viscose filamentary material, it may be a desulphurizing the nozzle is provided with a grooved guiding surface 6 (Figure 3) at the portion of its external periphery adapted to make contact with the filaments. This guiding surface serves to align the jet of liquid and the filament. The liquid travels up with the filamentary material a distance which depends upon the characteristics of the liquid and the particular material of which the filaments are composed, and also upon the pressure with which the liquid is formed. For any given filamentary material and treatment liquid, the distance along which the liquid travels on the filamentary material can be controlled by adjusting the fiuid pressure or by changingthe angle of inclination of the running filamentary material.

A suitable trough, tray, gutter, or other form of liquid catch basin 1 may be mounted upon a stationary portion 01 the frame of the machine at a point just below. that at which the liquid is thrown from the filament. This catch basin is provided with a suitable discharge pipe 8 which may return the liquid to the original supply or it may discharge the liquid to the sewer or other system, such as a recovery system.

The unitary structure just described may constitute but one of a number of such structures positioned side by side to constitute a complete liquid treating machine, In such event, the liquid supply pipe 9 may constitute a header supplying the liquid to a nozzle for each of the units of the machine and a single long gutter or trough may passing through each of the units.

Figures 4 and 5 show a modified form of nozzle guide having the grooved guiding surface ill for the filamentary material, the nozzle bore I i making a small angle therewith, and a conduit l2 runnin through the body l3 of the guide memher which may be of any suitable cross-section (triangular as shown) to adapt it for mounting upon the treatment machine and is provided with a preferably cylindrical portion ll adapted to serve'as a coupling element to any suitable liquid supply conduit.

While it is preferred that the nozzle direct the Jet of fluid upwardly onto a course of filamentary material running upwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is nevertheless within the contemplation of the invention to direct the jet of liquid downwardly with a yarn or filamentary material traveling downwardly or, if desired, for the nozzle to direct the jet of liquid downwardly countercurrent to a filamentary material traveling upwardly. In all cases, the nozzle directs the liquid jet substantially in alignment with the direction along which the course of the filamentary material extends. In those cases where the liquid is directly downwardly, the same arrangement may be employed as that shown in Figures 1 and 2 for catching the spillage, but in many cases, it may be desirable to supply the catch basin with a roller or a stationary convexly curved guiding surface, arranged to make contact with the tile g the liquid is traveling down the filamentary material, it is desirable that the course of travel of the filamentary material be at an angle to the vertical so that the liquid diverting device may be most effective. In those cases where the liquid is traveling upwardly, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a liquid diverting device may be applied, though such is not necessary. A preferred form of liquid diverting device in such a case would be a roller l5 positioned at the desired point above the trough or gutter and arranged to make contact at its periphery with the course of the filamentary material (see Figure 1a). Preferably such roller may be rotated in the direction of travel of the yarn adjacent its periphery at the same or a somewhat greater peripheral speed than the linear speed of the filamentary material. Where a roller is employed for removing the liquid from the filamentary material, a doctor blade l6 may be supplied beneath the roller to wipe the liquid from its surface;

As stated previously, the arrangement of this invention may be employed to apply liquids to filamentary material for any purpose whatsoever, such as heating the filamentary material, washing it, reacting with impurities within it, regenerating, coagulating, or further precipitating it, or the liquid may contain yarn or filament conditioning materials, such as oils, soaps, and other lubricating static-eliminating and media in general.

The device provides for substantially uniform softening be employed to catch the spillage from'the yarn contact over any predetermined constant length of running filament. It permits a large quantity of liquid to be applied in the form of a jet having a velocity ranging from a value considerably below the speed of travel of the filamentary material to one which is greatly in excess thereof without loss of liquid from the material by spraying or splashing. In addition, costs of equipment and power for circulating the liquid are reduced to a, minimum by virtue of the fact that substantially all the liquid sheathing layer about the filamentary material is maintained in a position for maximum effectiveness thereon.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In apparatus for treating filamentary material in the form of threads or bundles with liquids, means for forming a running length of said filamentary material at an angle to the vertical, a nozzle arranged adjacent said running length for directing a jet of the liquid into contact with said filamentary material at a relatively small angle with respect thereto, and a guide associated with said nozzle and having its guiding axis in substantially the same plane as the I terial in the form of threads or bundles with liquids, means for forming a running length of 'said filamentary material at an angle to the vertical, a nozzle arranged adjacent said running length for directing a jet of the liquid into contact with said filamentary material at a relatively small angle with respect thereto, and a groove on the external periphery of said nozzle arranged to guide the material for maintaining its axis in substantially the same plane as the axis of said jet.

3. In apparatus for treating filamentary material in the form of threads or bundles with liquids, means for forming an upwardly running length of said filamentary material at an angle to the vertical, a nozzle arranged adjacentsaid running length for directing a jet of the liquid upwardly into contact with said running course of filamentary material at a relatively small angle with respect thereto, and a groove on the external perriphery of said nozzle arranged to guide the material for maintaining its axis in substantially the same plane as the axis of said jet.

4. In apparatus for treating filamentary material in'the form of threads or bundles with liquids, means for forming an upwardly running length of said filamentary material at an angle to the vertical, a nozzle arranged adjacent said 

